Evra won't be Deschamps' captain

Didier Deschamps has revealed in L'Equipe he will never make Patrice Evra captain of France as long as he remains coach of Les Bleus, but has defended the Manchester United man's central role within his squad.

Captain at the 2010 World Cup, Evra, 33, led his country's squad on strike in South Africa with the players upset at Nicolas Anelka's exclusion after he had insulted then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Though Deschamps brought a young Evra to prominence during their mutual spell at Monaco in the early part of the first decade of the millennium, and though the left-back remains the France coach's first-choice in that position, he will not lead his country again as long as the former World Cup winner is in charge.

"He will never be with me, and he knows it," said Deschamps, who has followed predecessor Laurent Blanc in naming Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris captain.

"He knows why, but that doesn't mean he's not important. They are all important. He has a past. And some speak more than others. But even when it's good, it's not good."

Heavily criticised for his role in the protest in Knysna four years ago, Evra, who has regularly captained United, was also lambasted for speaking out at half-time of last September's pivotal World Cup qualifier in Belarus.

The full-back, who has 58 caps for his country, was named among the substitutes that night, but gave a talk at the interval with them trailing 1-0 in a game they went on to win 4-2 -- actions which were criticised by some sections of the media.

Deschamps said: "It's terrible for him. I get the impression that, whatever he does, it's not good. What he did that day fitted in with the way the squad works. I put myself in his position. He, just like others, can have a public image that does not reflect his personality.

"What you have to bear in mind is that a player is prepared for that. On the other hand, that's not the case for those who are around him and who love him. There's a certain aggression there today."